The new netcode

Well, since TF1.5 brought us the new netcode we have led lots of discussions about its advantages and disadvantages. Especially LPB’s claimed the game would play worse for them as before, while the majority of the HPB’s seems to be pretty pleased with it.

Yet all these discussions are a pretty wild mixture of facts, perceptions, opinions, polemics and guesswork.

Though my knowledge about the netcode of HL (or any other game in that matter) is rather limited I tried to understand how the netcode works. I have to thank Yahn Bernier for answering a few questions about the netcode as well as PainKilleR, who shared some of his extensive knowledge with me. (And I guess I have to apologize for all the harassment .

So the following is a description of the netcode how I came to understand it. This is bound to be inconclusive (this one took far to long in the making) as well as being partially wrong. So please correct me where I’m wrong and point out what needs to be clarified or laid out more extensively. If possible I will try to continue revising this article.

Just do me one favour: Spare me those pathetic arguments like “For the money I spent on my connection I deserve a better gameplay”. If you have nothing better to say than that, don’t bother to say anything at all.

But besides that I’m open for any kind of comment. As always, either drop me an email, or use the PlanetFortress-Forums for comments or discussions.